Korean striker Lee Young-Pyo fired an early warning with a rising drive over the bar after just four minutes and Seol Ki-Hyeon proved a real handful down the left flank.

He bamboozled Figo with a cheeky dummy and Beto went into the book for twice bringing down the striker in full flow.

Portugal were clearly shellshocked by the Koreans' pace and power and on the rare occasion they managed a break Figo completely missed the ball before being easily dispossessed on the touchline.

Their frustration boiled over when Joao Pinto clattered into Park Ji-Sung from behind and was instantly shown the red card by Argentine referee Angel Sanchez.

Korea thought they had the breakthrough they deserved on the half hour when Seol Ki-Hyeon tapped home but Portugal keeper Vitor Baia had clearly been fouled by Choi Jin-Chul as he jumped to claim a corner.

Portugal could still have gone into the interval ahead if Pauleta had shown the same composure that brought him a hat-trick against Poland.

The striker was sent racing between the Korean centre-backs by a perfect pass from Figo but shot well wide from the edge of the area.

News that group rivals the USA were losing to Poland would surely have been communicated to both sets of players at half-time.

But any fears that Korea might ease off and settle for a draw were dispelled when Guus Hiddink's side continued to pepper the Portuguese goal at the start of the second half.

Seol Ki-Hyeon and Yoo Sang-Chul both sent headers just past the post and Kim Nam-Il fired a fizzing shot across the face of goal.

Portugal threatened briefly when Pauleta had a header palmed away by keeper Lee Woon-Jae but their hopes faded when Beto was given his marching orders for bringing down Lee Young-Pyo.

It took the Koreans just five minutes to make them pay as Park Ji-Sung chested down a deep cross from the right, flicked the ball inside Fernando Couto and blasted home.

That was the signal for a frantic late finish which saw Figo send a free-kick flashing just wide and Sergio Conceicao hit the inside of the post with a drive before having a fierce shot palmed away by Lee Woon-Jae.